L'histoire de Little Richard

Original title: Little Richard

TV Movie
2000
TV-14
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The story of Little Richard Penniman, from his poor Southern upbringing to dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a black singer in the 1950s, to his born-again phase and brief "r... Read allThe story of Little Richard Penniman, from his poor Southern upbringing to dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a black singer in the 1950s, to his born-again phase and brief "retirement" from rock and roll.The story of Little Richard Penniman, from his poor Southern upbringing to dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a black singer in the 1950s, to his born-again phase and brief "retirement" from rock and roll.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
- 3 nominations total

Photos2

User reviews23

6.71K

Featured reviews

BigRich

Hey, this movie was alright...

This had to be one of Robert Townsends better, if not best, movie he'd ever directed. I never knew much about Little Richard's past and this movie does a very good job in explaining it. I say about as good as the Tina Turner story, What's Love Got to Do With it.

It's starts out with Richard's child hood, his infatuation with dressing up in his mother's clothes, his father giving him beatings and the influence of the church. The film later goes into Richard's first hit recording "Tutti Fruitti". Pat Boone later goes on to record this song and many other Little Richard songs and the white radio stations play Boone's instead of Richards. Of course, this isn't the whole plot of the movie, though, just part of it.

This movie is about as good as you can get when it comes to biography movies on Rock stars. It doesn't disappoint, not in my opinion. LEON does a very good job portraying Little Richard.

-BGR

6michaelRokeefe

Satan get behind me.

This is a very interesting story about the "Queen" of Rock 'n' Roll Little Richard Penniman. This movie stays true to the little I've researched. Actor turned director Robert Townsend gives us an intimate look at one of the founders of the music that changed the world. His abusive childhood to his bizarre beginnings in show business and his bowing out of an astounding career to preach the word of God. Then his energetic, but slightly noticed comeback. Thanks to Little Richard for "Lucille", "Long Tall Sally", "Tutti Fruitti" and his other hard, pulse pounding anthems. Leon is excellent in the starring role. Also of note in this biopic is Carl Lumbly, Tamala Jones, Anthony Griffith and Jonelle Kennedy. If you love Rock 'n' Roll and enjoy backing up your brain to its foundation you will enjoy LITTLE RICHARD.

Nozz

Aw, Pat Boone wasn't that bad

As we can only expect, everything gets a little oversimplified. Little Richard's wavering between religion and rock 'n' roll was a lot longer and less resolved than we see here, his sexuality was more complex-- I should say "even" more complex-- and hey, Pat Boone was not a bad singer. He was entirely the wrong singer for Little Richard's music, and he's admitted it forthrightly more than once, but he wasn't the talentless dummy that's shown in this movie.

3Eegah Guy

Interesting guy, uninteresting movie

I know that the real story of Little Richard is a lot more thrilling than this maudlin and thoroughly average biopic. But then producer Little Richard was probably too reluctant to bring to light any sordid details of his life and just gave us a forgettable facsimile of his career highlights from the 50s and 60s.

10Sabine-2

Very enjoyable show - Leon is the greatest!

Leon was fantastic as always, this time playing Little Richard in his early years. The movie showed a fully fleshed out Little Richard without neglecting to fill the show with lots of great music. My only complaint is that the ending was a little abrupt - I was hoping for a 2-parter!

Trivia
Little Richard suggested Prince for the lead role, but the deal was never made.

Quotes
Little Richard: [after a bandmate complains of wearing sissy make-up] Being pretty ain't never bothered me. Ain't that right, Lucille?
Lucille: 'Bout the prettiest boy I've ever seen.
Little Richard: Now, sneaking in the back doors so the white folks don't see us till we're on stage, eating in a parking lot of some restaurant that I wouldn't even pay to eat at the counter at, now *that* bothers me. Being called a sissy?
[pause]
Little Richard: You look-a here! Them white kids, they're dancing to *our* music! Okay, they may have Pat Boone on their record player in case their parents walk in, but they got *my* record underneath their pillow. You know which show we're playing here? You know how many colors have played here? None! You know why? 'Cause they can't! I am the first! I am the only! So if you wanna call me a sissy, go ahead! Knock yourself out, boy! But you make sure you call me a rich sissy. And you do as I do, you all gonna be rich sissies, too. Now, where my eyeliner?